• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.255-257
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• 1993

We investigated the effects of single administration of Korean earthworm(Lamnodrilus gotai Hatai) juice (KEJ) on blood pressure and spontaneous motor activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats. We report that KEJ lowered blood pressure and spontaneous motor activity in SHR.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 1994

We studied the effect of eicosanoids on the content of energy metabolites and the intrasynaptosomal $Ca^{++}([Ca^{++}]_i)$ concentration in cerebral ischemic rats. An ischemic model was made by bilateral carotid artery ligation (BCAL) and by incubation of synaptosomes under aglycemic and $N_2$ gas bubbling condition. The content of ATP, creatine phosphate and glucose decreased at 15 minutes after BCAL while that of lactate increased in male Wistar rats. Oral administration of EPA(100 mg/ml/Kg/day) or DHA(16 mg/ml/Kg/day) for 6 weeks improved both the decreases and the increase of the cerebral energy metabolites. In addition, the increase of $[Ca^{++}]_i$, under BACL was suppressed by EPA or DHA treatment. When the both Wistar rats and SHR were administered orally with EPA or DHA for 6 weeks, the effect on the increase of $[Ca^{++}]_i$ under ischemia by $N_2$ gas bubbling were protected. From these results, it may be that EPA or DHA treatment were greatly contributed to preservation of ischemic cerebral energy metabolism and $Ca^{++}$ concentration.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.159-163
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• 2010

A mixture of several detoxified bacterial strains ($Sterodin^{(R)}$) has been studied for anti-inflammatory effect in Wistar rats on carrageenin, dextran and prostaglandin $E_1$ ($PGE_1$) induced edema in acute model and cotton pellet and carrageenin induced sub-acute model, while, Freund's adjuvant induced chronic model. The bacterial strains showed strong inhibitory activity in acute, sub-acute and chronic models of inflammation. Further, it reduced ${\alpha}1$ acid glycoprotein and ${\alpha}2$ macroglobulin levels in serum and prostaglandin $E_2$ in inflamed paw. These results indicated that the bacterial strains probably act through prostaglandin mediatory pathways and may be useful in treatment of inflammation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.215-223
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• 1999

Background: The replacement of the narrowed long-segment trachea with various prosthetic materials or tissue grafts remains a difficult and unsolved surgical problem. Homologous cryopreserved tracheal transplantation has been considered to treat the irreversibly-damaged organs, such as in the lung or heart transplantation and also to overcome the limited supply of donor organs. We examined the morphological changes and the immunosuppressive effects of the cryopreserved trachea after the heterotopic transplantation in the rats. Material and Method: Sixty tracheal segments harvested from 30 donor Wistar rats were heterotopically implanted into the peritoneal cavity of 20 recipient Wistar rats and 40 Sprague Dawley rats. The 60 recipient rats were divided into 6 groups(10 rats/ group). In groups I, II, and III, 30 tracheal segments were implanted immediately after the harvesting and in groups IV, V, and VI, the segments were implanted 28 days after the cryopreservation. Groups I and IV were Wistar syngeneic controls. Groups II and V were Sprague Dawley recipients receiving no immunosuppression and Groups III and VI, were Sprague Dawley recipients receiving immunosuppressive agents. At 28 days all rats were sacrificed and the tracheal segments were evaluated grossly and histologically. Result: Immunosuppression of the tracheal segments had a significant influence on the changes of the tracheal lumen and tracheal epithelial cells, irrespective of the cryopreservation of the trachea(p<0.001). In groups III and VI receiving immunosuppressive agents, the tracheal lumen was patent and the normal epithelial cells were observed, however in the other groups not receiving the immunosuppressive agents, there were almost luminal obliteration by the proliferation of the fibrous tissues and a loss of the epithelial cells, the findings were similar to those in the case of obliterative bronchiolitis after a lung and a heart-lung transplantation. Conclusion: With the appropriate immunosuppressive agents, the lumen and the respiratory epithelium of the transplanted tracheal segment were well preserved, even after the cryopreservation of the tracheal segment, which shows the possibility of the long-term preservation and homologous transplantation of the trachea. But fibroproliferative obliteration of the tracheal lumen and the loss of the normal respiratory epithelial cells, characteristic findings of obliterative bronchiolitis, were observed in the groups without the immunosuppression. This experiment using the rat trachea may be useful in studying the pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention of obliterative bronchiolitis after a lung and a heart-lung transplantation.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2010

The effect on body fat accumulation on male Wistar rats undergoing continuous feeding with a histidine-enriched diet was investigated. Five-week-age rats were assigned to two groups and were fed either the control diet (purified diet AIN-$76^{TM}$) or the histidine-enriched diet containing 3% histidine for 28 days. It was observed that both adipose tissue masses in retroperitoneal and epididymal areas of rats fed histidine-enriched diet significantly decreased (p<0.05) compared to those of control rats, while there was no significant difference in the food efficiency ratio between them. The blood levels of histidine derivatives of 3-methylhistidine and carnosine were significantly (p<0.05) increased in the rats fed a histidine-enriched diet, whereas there were no significant different between the histidine-enriched diet and control groups in the general amino acid distribution. Our results demonstrate that a histidine-enriched diet suppresses body fat accumulation in rats.

• CELLMED
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.5.1-5.8
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• 2023

Objectives: Cassia occidentalis L. is a weed belonging to the Caesalpiniaceae family. The root of this medicinal plant is used for the treatment of various ailments, including kidney diseases. The present study was aimed at evaluating the nephroprotective effects of HAE of the roots of Cassia occidentalis L. against gentamicininduced renal toxicity in albino Wistar rats. Methods: The renal toxicity was induced by subcutaneous administration of gentamicin at 100 mg/kg in the rats belonging to the disease control and treatment groups from the 4^th to the 8^th day. The rats in the treatment group received HAE of the roots of Cassia occidentalis L. at 67 mg/kg b. w. orally for 8 days, while no treatment was given to the rats in the disease control and plain control groups. At the end of the experiment, renal biomarkers viz; s. creatinine, b. urea, and s. uric acid, were investigated. The histopathological examination of the kidney specimens was also carried out. Results: The results of the present study revealed that renal function biomarkers such as s. creatinine, b. urea, and s. uric acid were significantly reduced in the rats of the treatment group as compared to those of the disease control group. Moreover, the histoarchitecture reports of the treatment group's kidney specimens showed significant improvements. Conclusion: The results suggested that the HAE of Cassia occidentalis L. roots promisingly prevented kidney injury in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxic rats. This effect might be due to improved clearance of gentamicin from the renal tubule and decreased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.252-258
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• 2020

This study investigated the biochemical and histological changes associated with the co-administration of cisplatin and methanolic extract of Portulaca oleracea (MEPO) in adult Wistar rats. Twenty-four (24) adult female Wistar rats were randomly divided into six (6) groups (A-F) (n = 4). Group A served as the control group for the experiment and received no treatment. Group B was given a single dose of cisplatin and served as the cisplatin control group. Group C and D received 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg of MEPO 6 hours after a single dose cisplatin injection respectively. Group E and F received 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg of MEPO 6 hours before cisplatin injection. The cisplatin injection was 2 mL/kg given intraperitoneally for all groups. There was a significant increase in the serum levels of ALT, ALP, AST, total bilirubin, and conjugated bilirubin following cisplatin treatment (p = 0.000, 0.000, 0.039, 0.000, 0.004 respectively) with a consequent reversal due to MEPO administration across all treated groups (p = 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, and 0.000) in a dose-dependent fashion. Cisplatin caused the expansion of the red and white pulp in the spleen which was attenuated by MEPO. MEPO demonstrated a protective effect against cisplatin-induced liver and spleen toxicity.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.168-179
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• 2020

Objective: This study investigated testicular oxidative stress status and physiomorphological function in Wistar rats fed with yaji and cadmium chloride (CdCl₂). Methods: Sixty male albino Wistar rats (12 per group) were randomly assigned to five groups: group I (control), group II (300 mg/kg.bw of yaji), group III (500 mg/kg.bw of yaji), group IV (2.5 mg/kg.bw of CdCl₂), and group V (2.5 mg/kg.bw of yaji+4 mg/kg.bw omega-3). Each group was evenly subdivided into two subgroups and treatment was administered for 14 days and 42 days, respectively. Semen quality (sperm count, progressive motility, normal morphology, and gonadosomatic index), hormones (testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone), testicular oxidative stress markers (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and malonaldehyde) and testicular histomorphological features were examined. Results: Yaji caused significant (p< 0.05) dose- and duration-dependent reductions in semen quality, the gonadosomatic index, testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone. Yaji also caused significant (p< 0.05) dose- and duration-dependent decreases in superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activity, as well as increased testicular malonaldehyde levels. Yaji induced distortions in the testicular histological architecture. CdCl₂ damaged testicular function by significantly (p< 0.05) reducing semen quality, reproductive hormone levels, and oxidative stress markers in albino Wistar rats. CdCl₂ also altered the histology of the testis. Conclusion: This study shows that yaji sauce has similar anti-fertility effects to those of CdCl₂, as it adversely interferes with male reproduction by impairing oxidative stress markers and the function and morphological features of the testis.

• CELLMED
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.2.1-2.8
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• 2020

Uterotonics have the ability to contract uterus. Such plants might be useful in augmenting or inducing labour, expelling retained afterbirth and for abortifacient purposes. Limitations associated with conventional treatments have made herbal medicines a feasible alternative for the management of these conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the contractile effects of Uvariodendron kirkii extracts on isolated uterine strips of female Wistar rats. Isolated strips of Wistar rats' uteri were treated with 20, 40, 80 and 160 mg/ml concentrations of Uvariodendron kirkii aqueous extract. The plant extract was also tested against prostaglandin and oxytocin induced uterine contractions. Uvariodendron kirkii extract concentrations (20, 40, 80 and 160 mg/ml) increased the frequency of uterine contraction (16.53, 25.12, 33.48 and 56.39 percentages respectively) compared to the control. The graded extract concentrations caused a significant increase in amplitude (force) of uterine contractions by 2.87, 9.22, 16.37 and 24.32 percentages respectively. The concentrations significantly increased the frequency of oxytocin induced uterine contractions by 6.92; 28.31; 47.06, 58.78 percentages respectively. The graded extract concentrations also significantly increased the amplitude of oxytocin induced uterine contractions by 6.07; 9.40; 15.19 and 23.56 percentages respectively. Uvariodendron kirkii extract concentrations significantly increased the frequency and amplitude of prostaglandin induced contractions. The percentage increase in frequency was 11.44, 8.92, 20.65 and 35.71 at 20, 40, 80 and 160 mg/ml respectively. The mean amplitude of prostaglandin induced uterine contractions also increased (4.75, 3.89, 8.29 and 15.91% at 20. 40, 80 and 160 mg/ml respectively). The extract caused a dose dependent increase in uterine frequency and amplitude of contraction. The findings of thisstudy are useful in generating a novel uterotonic agent that will be useful in augmenting labour or in expelling retained after birth in cattle. More studies at molecular level will further elucidate the plant mechanism of action.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1330-1335
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• 2009

Although beneficial effects of dietary plant proteins on lipid metabolism are well documented, not much information exists on the influence of different seafood proteins on the lipid metabolism. The present study evaluated the effect of 2 marine proteins (tuna protein and scallop ovary proteins) in comparison to casein and soy protein in male Wistar rats. The concentration of total lipids in the plasma of rats fed experimental diets was significantly lower from that of control (278.2 mg/dL) group (p<0.05); and, the liver lipid content was not significantly different (p>0.05). Fecal excretion of cholesterol and bile acids was significantly higher in marine proteins and soy protein fed groups compared to casein only fed control (6.1 and 6.4 mg/day, respectively) group (p<0.05). No significant differences were observed in the mRNA concentrations of different transcriptional factors (p>0.05).